Vitreous Humor Analysis for Selected Biochemical Parameters From Cervids in Idaho

Abstract

Vitreous humor and liver samples were collected from hunter-harvested elk (Cervus elaphus) and mule deer (Odocoilens hernionus) in Idaho (USA). Concentrations of calcium, chloride, potassium, sodium, urea nitrogen and selenium were determined and evaluated according to species, age, gender, geographic location, and time elapsed following death. Vitreous humor analysis yielded reliable biochemical information for 96 hr subsequent to the death of the animal. Vitreous potassium concentration changes over time could be used to estimate the time that elapsed following death.

SEVERE HOOF DISEASE IN FREE-RANGING ROOSEVELT ELK (CERVUS ELAPHUS ROOSEVELTI) IN SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON, USA

“…Mineral analysis of liver showed that all elk were generally selenium deficient and all but one study elk were copper deficient (Hidiroglou and Williams 1986;Zaugg and Kinsel 1997;Johnson et al 2007). Copper levels in hoof wall of all elk were below limits previously established for wild Alaskan moose (Flynn et al 1977) and domestic cattle (Sugg et al 1996).…”

“…Unfortunately, it is unclear whether laminitis is the primary cause of hoof disease or secondary to chronic hoof deformity and inflammation. Elk normal parameters adapted from references established for California tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes) and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) (Zaugg and Kinsel 1997;Johnson et al 2007). …”

“…Results were reported on a wet weight basis and compared to values reported for cattle (Kincaid 1999), California tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes; Johnson et al 2007), and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni; Zaugg and Kinsel 1997).…”

Liver Metal Concentrations in Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)

“…Trace metal baseline data are sorely lacking for many wildlife species, including Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). The common practice of using normal values of domestic species for comparison may be misleading due to physiologic or environmental variations (Zaugg and Kinsel, 1997;Blakely et al, 2000). Metal toxicosis is a major problem for many avian species (e.g., lead poisoning in waterfowl due to ingestion of lead shot), and deficiencies of trace elements contribute to increased clinical disease (Osofsky et al, 2001).…”

Hyperkalemia in Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus)

“…Potassium concentrations rise in plasma and vitreous humor after death, and the latter is used to estimate the postmortem interval in human forensic investigations (Jashnani et al, 2010). Data from Zaugg and Kinsel (1997) showed that postmortem vitreous K + concentrations can be used to estimate the time of death in elk and mule deer. However, in the current study, the time from death to sample collection was less than 10 min, so postmortem leakage is unlikely to be the cause of the hyperkalemia.…”